Two-way speed reducing unit



July 24, 1951 Filed Kay 20, 1947 F. a. RECKER TYIO-WAY'SPEED REDUCING UNIT 4 Shouts-Sheet 1 FLOR/AN B. RECKER,

July 24, 1951 F. B. RECKER 2,561,755

TWO-WAY SPEED REDUCING UNIT Filed May 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F1. OR/AN a. REC/(ER,

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July 24, 1951 F. B. RECKER 2,561,755

Two-WAY SPEED REDUCING UNIT Filed lay 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4.

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July 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed'llay 20, 1947 n 8 m n NE QM W W R Q N N W A aw i M N w F ,$\k N QJ K m3 AW 3T5 m\ .\NN\.\F A Rm mm Q W w L $2 Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2561355 7 "rwo-wnr-s aann REDUCING UNIT Florian B; Becker, Hopkinton, Iowa Application May-20,1947, Serial No.. 749,154

2"Olaims., (01. 318-470) This invention relates to a two-way, speedreducing unit for operating .an unloaderdriveon farm wagons.

pitching or shoveling operation.

The .present invention providesapower drive fora wagon having such a movable end, wall and unloader drive therefor; the present invention includes in addition a second power take-off forz,

operating a feedingdevice for handling the ma.- terial unloaded from the wagon.

The object of the present invention'is toi ro vide a speed-reducing unit comprising a three stage reduction drive between the drivingmotor;

and the movable end wall of the farm wagon.

It is another object of the present invention,-

to. -provide a speed-reductionunit in, which the terminal rotary member for operating, the move able end wall of a wagon has .low but uniform;

angular velocity and at a hightorque.--

It is an additional object of the present line vention to provide a speed-reduction,,unit'for; operating the movable end wall whichv includes-,- a reverse drive for returning the movable end:

wall at relatively high speed.

It is a further object of thepresent invention; to provide a speed-reduction unit for operating the movable end wall in a farm wagonwhichz;

has a power take-off for operating; a ;conveyor to remove the contents of the wagon as sameare;

unloaded.

Still other objects, advantagesand improve ments will become apparent from the follow-ins; specification, taken in connection .with thecace companying drawin s, in which:

Figure 1 is. a side elevational View of thetwor, way, speed-reduction drive of the present-invene tion;

Figure 2 is a top plan viewrof the ;two-,way;:;

speed reduction device;

Figure 3 is a .view on thesection; line 3+3 of; Figure 2, showing the step-by-step mechani sm-,, this being the final stage of the speed-reduction;

device;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of-thespeed-r, reduction unit of the presentinvention,showing, same attached to the unloader shaft of a farm wagon having a movable end wall;

Figure 5 is a view on the section line 55 of Figure 2,*showing the adjustable mounting' of a" pillowblock bearing for the first and second stages ofthe speed reduction drive;--

Figure 6 is a view'showing an extension on the main frame of the speed-reduction drive for mountingan auxiliary drive shaft which operates the. eonveyor for removing the material unloaded from the wagon;

Figure 7 isa side elevational view of the frame extension and the auxiliary drive shaft shown nE ure 6;

Figure, 8isa top plan view of the'principal operating parts of the stop mechanism for the driving motoruused in connection with the speedreduction device of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the stop mechanism shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the section line l0 ,l0 of Figure 2, showing in detail the clutch for controlli the direction of the drive.

Referring. now to the drawings in detail, and toFigures 1 and 2; in particular, the speed-reduction deviceofthe presentinvention is hereshown, as being mounted on a frame comprised oflongitudinal members Ill-l0, which, are cross connectedby transverse members i4, I6, l8 and. 20. These cross-members may be connected to the Side'mem-bers ill-l0 by any suitable means, as by weldingor bolts or rivets, as shown at l3 (Figure 1), betweenthe, cross-member and. the side frame member; ID. The frame issu-pportedat its front: and rear ends, by legs, 26-26, thesevbeing secured to the side frame members. It) by bolts orrivets 2i, and the rear legs having, feet 28-7-28. The legs 26-26 are cross-connected by a bracei'l.v At the front endlthe brace 21 is; replacedliby an.axle.29 .on, which wheels 30-30 are mounted.-

Anelectric motor-132 isadjustably secured: between the middle ,crossemembers .IB andlBL Longitudinal supports 3 l-3l are secured to the CIOSS-r members, as by welding, and bolts 33 .passthrough; the feet of the motor. and. suitable slotslinrthe supports. A1. switch box. ismountedon the, electric motor 32, and wires 35-45 extend from: asuitable source .of electrical energy (notshown) to this: switch box. Within: the switch box 34 there mounted a switchinot shown) and an operating arm36-is-provided within the switch box-and extends exterior-1y thereof. An extension rod- 31 isconnected to the -operatingarm 36-and extends freely through an angle-bracket 38' mounted on the forward cross-member-'20.-

The electric motor 32 has a shaft 39 on which is mounted'a double -V pulley 40. From-the pul- 1ey-40 abelt 4| extendsto a V pulley 42' mounted on a cross-shaft--'44-;- The adjustable mounting of the electric motor on the supports 3 l 3 ixem ablesthe belt 4 Mo be'loosened-ortightened'as the case may be. The pulley 42 is of larger diameter than the pulley 40, and the ratio of the two provides the first stage of speed reduction. V pulleys 43-43 are mounted on the cross-shaft 44, one intermediate the V pulley 42, and the side frame member I and the other on the opposite end of the shaft and adjacent the opposite side frame member I0. The cross-shaft 44 is mounted on the side frame members I0I0 by pillow block bearigns 4545. As shown in Figure 5, each of these bearings comprises a cover plate 45, a base 46, and a journal bushing 41, positioned between the two. well kown construction passes through the cover plate 45 and journal bushing 41, securing the latter against rotation with respect to the former, as well as providing for lubrication of the journal bushing and shaft 44.

Bolts 48 with washers 49 and nuts 50 on their lower ends extend through the cover plate 45, base 46 and through elongated slots I I in the side frame members I0I0, this attachment means providing for adjustably positioning the pillow block bearings along the side frame members to shift the pillow block bearings 45-45 along the side frame members I0-I0, there are provided screws I-5I abutting these bearings and mounted in lugs on ears 52 secured to the frame members I0l0 in any suitable manner, as by welding.

From the pulleys 43-43, belts 53-53 run over pulleys 54-54 mounted on a second cross-shaft 55. Again the pulleys 5454 are of larger diameter than the pulleys 4343, and the ratio of the two provides the second stage of speed reduction. The cross-shaft 55 is journaled on the frame members I0I0 by pillow block bearings 5656, these being adjustably secured to the frame by bolts 51 extending through slots II in the frame members in the same manner as the pillow block bearings 45 in the preceding stage. Again there are provided screws 5I--5I abutting these bearings and mounted in lugs or ears 52 on the side frame members I0I0.

A driven shaft 65 is journaled on the frame members I0-I0 by pillow block bearings 68-68, secured to the frame members by bolts 69. Either end of this shaft may be the power take-off, and both ends are formed as square sections 61 for this purpose. On the shaft 65 there is freely mounted a pulley having an integral hub H. The hub 1| on its outer face abuts the adjacent pillow block bearing 68, and on its inner face is formed with axially extending clutch jaws .12. A groove or counterbore 13 is formed in the hub 1I below the clutch jaws 12, and this groove receives a pin 14 mounted in the shaft 65 to limit any inward travel of the pulley 10. A V belt 58 runs over the pulley 10 and also over a pulley 60 mounted on the cross-shaft 55 by a pin 6|, the pulleys 10 and 60 being of the same diameter.

A ratchet gear is also freely mounted on the shaft 65, and this gear likewise has an integral hub 11. The hub 11 on its outer face abuts the adjacent pillow block bearing 68, and on its inner face is formed with axially extending clutch jaws 18, these being inclined in the opposite direction to the clutch jaws 12 on the hub H of the pulley 10. Likewise, a groove or counterbore 16 is formed in the inner face of the hub 11 under the clutch jaws 10, and this groove receives a pin 19 mounted in the shaft 65 to limit any inward movement of the ratchet gear.

A sleeve 80 is oscillatably mounted on the hub 11 adjacent the outer face of the ratchet gear A screw-threaded grease fitting '59 of 15 and is held in position by a collar 82 through which a set screw 0| extends. The sleeve 80 is formed with two integral arms 83 and 84, as shown, these being approximately 90 apart. The arm 83 is the operating arm and has pivotally mounted thereon at 86 a pawl 85, which is biased by a spring 81 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 15, the spring 81 being coiled at its outer end around a pin 89. At its free end the arm 83 carries a follower roller 90 pivotally mounted thereon at 89. In order to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet gear 15, a detent 92 is pivoted by a pin 9I on a suitable arm or leg I5 on the frame member I4, the pin being held in place by a cotter key 93. The detent 92 is biased into engagement with the ratchet gear 15 by a tension spring 94 which is connected between the outer arm of the detent and a suitable ear I1 on the frame member I4.

A cam 62 is mounted on the cross-shaft 55, this cam having an integral hub 64 through which a. pin 63 extends. The cam 62 drives the follower roller 90. The follower roller 90 is held in engagement with the cam 62 by a coiled tension spring 95 which is hooked at one end in a hole in the operating arm 84 and at the other end in an angle bracket 23 which is secured to the longitudinal side frame members I0 in any suit-- able manner, as by welding.

The arm 84 on the sleeve 80 is the adjusting arm for determining the throw of a follower roller 90 with respect to the lift of the cam 62. An operating rod 96 is connected to the arm 84 by a lost motion or shock-absorbing connection which comprises a sleeve IOI freely mounted on the operating rod and a second sleeve 91, spaced inwardly of the sleeve IOI, with a coil compression spring I00 interposed between the sleeves, washers 99 being positioned between the ends of the sprin and the sleeves. The sleeve 91 is secured to the operating rod 96 by radially positioned set screws 90 and the sleeve IOI has a. pivot pin I02 force fitted in its side wall which pin extends through a hole in the arm 84 and is secured therein by a cotter key I03. The operating rod 96 extends to an adjusting lever I04 which is pivoted at I05 on One of the side frame members I0. The lever I04 carries the usual springpressed detent I06 and the operating handle I01 therefor, which detent cooperates with a sector rack I00 secured to the side frame member I0 by bolts I09.

A clutch collar H0 is slidably mounted on the cross-shaft 65 intermediate the pulley 10 and the ratchet gear 15, this collar having an internal groove in its hub which rides over a spline 66 which may be a half-moon key positioned longitudinally in the shaft and secured therein by a force fit or by welding. The collar I I0 has axially extending clutch jaws II2 at one end for mating engagement with the clutch jaws 12 on the pulley I 10, and oppositely directed axially extending clutch jaws II4 on the other end for matin engagement with the clutch jaws 18 on the ratchet gear 15. Integral parallel flanges III-III are formed on the clutch collar I I0 adjacent its midsection.

A bell crank lever H6 is pivoted at H5 on an inwardly extending arm I9 on the cross frame member I4, and this lever is bifurcated at its outer end (Figure 10), and on the parallel sides there are mounted pivoted rollers II3I I3 positioned intermediate the flanges III--I II on the clutch sleeve IIO. A connecting link H8 is pivoted at one end at ill to the bell crank lever I I6...

nd at the 'otherend at H9 toan operating-rod I: The operating'rod I20 is guided in eye straps I2I secured to one of the side frameme'rnbers I0 and is connected at its opposite end-"to the lower end of an operating lever I2! by'a double lost motion connection. The rod I20 ex tends freely through a suitable hole in the lower end of the lever I21, andv springs I22- "I22 sur round this rod on either side of the lower end'of the lever. A Nuts I24--I24 are mounted'on the rod I20 and abutted by the outer ends of the springs I22, washers I23 being interposed betweenthe ends of the springs and the nuts. The operating lever I2! is preferably mounted on one of' the side frame members It by a pivot block I25, which in turn is secured to the side frame mem her by bolts I26. This lever carries the usual spring-pressed detent I28 and operating'button I29 therefor. The detent I28 cooperates with the sector rack I30 formed as an inverted U member and secured to the side frame member by bolts I3I. 7

An automatic stopping device is connected between the driven shaft 65 and the switch box 34 of the electric motor 32. This device, in its preferred form, consists of a tubular member I32 having a squared section at one end of its bore which fits over the squared section 61 on one end of the shaft 65; a pin I33 may be mounted through the tubular member I32 and the shaft 35, if desired. Achain I36 is connected to the outer end of the tubular member I32 by bolt I34 extending through diametrically positioned holes in the latter and having a nut I35 mounted on its end. The chain I36 extends around a pulley I3I which is secured to the outer cross frame member 20 by a bolt or pin I38, and thence to an elongated tension spring I39 which is con nected to the arm 36 extendin from the motor switch 34.

As previously stated, the two-way, speed-reducingunit of the present invention may be used for unloading wagons of the type shown inmy copending application No. 707,105. wagon is shown in Figure 4, and comprises a body I40 mounted on wheels MI and having a movable end wall I 42 driven from an operatin or unloader shaft I43. The operating shaft I43 drives the movable end wall I42 rearwardly to unload the body I40 by a mechanism which is not here shown, but which is fully disclosed and illustrated in said copending application. The wagon I40 is shown with the tail gate removed and in a partially unloaded condition. The driven shaft 65 of the speed-reduction unit of the present invention is connected to the operating shaft I43 of the wagon by a connecting shaft I45 having flanged couplings I44 and I46 on either end. The flanged coupling I46 has an internal square section on itsouter end for fitting over the square section 61 on the driven shaft 65. and the flanged coupling I44 is similarly arranged for connection to the operating shaft I43. As the wagons I40 will not always be stopped at the same distance from the unloader mechanism, the connecting shaft I45 is made of telescopic construction.

In unloading various materials, it may be desirable to convey same to a central place for packing or storage. For instance, if the wagon I40 should contain grain, it would be desirable to have a conveyor to carry the grain from the end of the wagon I40 to the point where same is Such a of*the-speed-reduction drive are fixed by the loader-shaft I43 'forthe wagon I40, the-frame is made nolonger thannecessary for obvious reasonsfo'f economy of-material, and in such case it wouldbe shorter than the wagon body -'I40. In orderto use a ceriveyor'at theend of the wagon, an extension'ofthe frame is provided. This extension-"is--comprised of auxiliary longitudinal frame members I 2-'--I Z-secured'to the main longitudinal frame'member I0-I0 by bolts I3, and cross members 22 and-24 secured to the auxiliary longitudinal frame members I2I2 by bolts or rivets25. Across-shaft I4l-is mounted on the auxiliary longitudinal frame members I2I2 by pillow=block bearings I48, these being secured to the frame member by-bolts I43; 'At its outer end thecrbss shaft I41 mounts a V pulley I50having a -hub I5I' through which a set screw I52 extends to secure the pulley to the shaft. A belt I53 rurisdver the pulley I50, and over one section of the double V'pulley 40 on the shaft 39 of the'electric driving'inotor 32. At its opposite end the cross-shaft I4'I'has attached thereto a universal coupling I55 by apin I54. The universal coupling I55 connects the cross-shaft M1 to a shaft I56 of a conveyor. This conveyor is mounted' on standards I5I'I5TI and comprises a cylindrical housing I58 open at its top, a spiral element I59 being mounted within thehousing I58 and on the shaft I56.

In operation, the speed-reduction unit of the present invention has its driven shaft 65 connected to the unloader shaft I43 of the wagon by the intermediate shaft I45. The electric motor 32 drives the shaft 65 through the three-stage, speed-reduction drive comprised of the pulleys 40-4-2 and 43-'54,' and the step-by-step mechanism comprised of the cam 62, follower roller 90, arm83, ratchet gear 75. While so driving the un loader shaft I43, the clutch sleeve I I0 has its jaws II4 in engagement with the cooperating jawslt on the ratchet gear 15. Rotation of the unloader shaft I43 drives the movable end wall I42 rearwardly to force the contents of the wagon body uncut theopen rear'end. The first'two stages ratios of the pulleys 40 and 42 and 43 and 54, but the third stage may be varied by setting the throw of a follower roller with respect to the lift of the cam 62, this adjustment being made by setting the adjusting lever I04. As previously stated, the tension spring 95, operating on the adjusting arm 84, continuously maintains the follower roller 90 in operating engagement with the cam 62. Usually, the shafts 65-443 will rotate at about 2 to 4 revolutions per minute, and will make about 12 or 14 revolutions while the movable end wall I42 travels the entire length of the wagon body I40. As the driven shaft 65 rotates, the chain I36 will be wound up thereon, the turns being formed on the tubular member inwardly to- Wards the adjacent side frame member I0. The length of this chain is so selected that, as the movable end wall I42 reaches the open tail gate of the wagon, the chain will be entirely wound up on the tubular member and will operate the switch 34 and stop the electric motor 32.

When the wagon I 40 has been unloaded, the clutch sleeve H0 is shifted along the shaft 65 so that the jaws II2 thereof engage the jaws 12 on the pulley 10. There is then a direct drive from the cross-shaft 55 to the shaft 65 through the pulleys 60-10 and the shafts 65 and I43 then rotate in a reverse direction and at a greatly increased speed to return the movable end wall I42 to the forward end of the wagon.

QiQQliT The two-way, speed-reduction unit of the present invention may be used to unload wagons containing chopped hay. chopped straw, grain, silage, and ear corn. The material unloaded from the rear end of the wagon I40 falls by gravity into the housing I58 of the conveyor and is then carried by the spiral blade I59 to the desired point of delivery. The spiral blade I59 is driven from the electric motor 32 through double V pulleys 40, belt I53, pulley I50 and cross-shaft I41 and extension I56 thereof.

Itshould be apparent that the above description and illustration of the present invention set forth the preferred embodiment thereof, and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and useful, and desireto secure by Letters Patent f the United States is:

1. In a power transmission, a, support, a motor mounted upon the support and including an armature shaft and a trip type switch operative to interrupt the operation of the motor, a load drive shaft mounted upon the support for rotation and spaced from the motor, speed reduction gearing operatively connecting the drive shaft and armature shaft, a guide pulley mounted upon the support and spaced from the motor, and 8. flexible element trained about the guide pulley and having one end connected with the motor switch and its opposite end connected with and entrained on the drive shaft whereby continued rotation of the drive shaft through the speed reductlon gearing will cause theflexible element to be wound upon the drive shaft for automatically actuating the switch for the motor to interrupt the operation of the motor when the drive shaft has reached a predetermined number of revolutions. I

v2. In a power transmission, a support, a motor mounted upon the support and including an ar mature shaft and a switch operative to interrupt the operation of the motor, a load drive shaft rotatably mounted upon the support and spaced from the motor, an element rotatably mounted upon the drive shaft, speed reduction gearing connecting the armature shaft and element, a ratchet wheel mounted upon the drive shaft and spaced axially of the element and adapted to oscillate with respect to the drive shaft, mechanical means connecting the ratchet wheel and speed reduction gearing for causing the ratchet wheel to oscillate, an axially shiftable clutch device mounted upon the drive shaft between the ratchet wheel and element, mechanical means connected with the clutch device for shifting it alternately into engagement with the ratchet wheel and element so that the drive shaft may be driven in one direction with a relatively slow step by step movement and in the opposite direction with a relatively fast continuous movement, a guide pulley mounted upon the support and spaced from the motor, and a flexible element extending about the guide pulley and having one end connected with the switch of the motor and its opposite end entrained on the drive shaft to be wound thereon whereby the switch is operative to interrupt the operation of the motor when the drive shaft has reached a predetermined number of revolutions.

F'LORIAN B. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Mallory Aug. 8, 1944 

